KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Presentation of a new book by Yervand Azatyan, a writer, publicist, literary critic, Honorary Doctor of ASPU, took place at Tekeyan Cultural Union. The book is a collection of the writer’s articles and essays, his approaches to different issues, which were published during his literary activity.

ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan congratulated the writer and said that the advantage of the collection is that one can start reading the book from any page. The rector particularly called everyone’s attention to the essay "Blue Yerevan" and said that the writer wrote about his homeland with love and warmth although he was far away from it.

“It is difficult to speak about one’s homeland with such devotion, so concisely and poetically. Such is Yervand Azatyan, the greatest intellectual of our time,” said Mr. Mirzakhanyan.

The book presentation was attended by literary critics, lecturers, the writer’s friends and readers, who highly appreciated Yervand Azatyan's literary activity, civic courage and multi-disciplinary thinking.

Hakob Avetikyan, editor-in-chief of Azg daily, Professor at ASPU, presented Yervand Azatyan as literary critic. Publicist and literary critic Alexander Topchyan stressed that in his articles Yervand Azatyan addresses such issues that people were afraid to speak about. Theatrical figure, director and actor Jirayr Babasyan read an excerpt from the book.

“Yervand Azatyan’s works are endlessly accurate; there is a sober and impartial look in his works,” said Edward Militosyan, President of the Writers' Union of Armenia. He advised the writer to shift his sober look to Armenian literary memories. The editor of the book Yervand Ter-Khachatryan, focused on the three valuable attributes that make the book “Lost and Not Lost Pages” a unique one. “Yervand Azatyan writes in Armenian, he has a broad outlook, and civic position,” he said. "I don't trust an artist who doesn't add colors to a painting, a musician who doesn’t know the notes while a writer always possesses literary thought, artistic and scientific speech. That is why I highly appreciate Yervand Azatyan; he can write about anything and everything,” the editor added.

At the end of the event, Yervand Azatyan thanked the guests (from Yerevan and abroad), everyone who participated in the publication of the book, and the rector of Armenian State Pedagogical University. “I always try to have my books published in Armenia. My goal is to make a small contribution to strengthening the ties between Western Armenians and Eastern Armenians. For me, the unity of our people is above all,” he said.

The presentation was accompanied by the captivating and cheerful sounds of the canon, with popular and beloved musical performances by Zvartnots band (led by canon master Hasmik Leyloyan).